title: Brain docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] incorporation and blood flow are increased in chronic alcoholics: a positron emission tomography study corrected for cerebral atrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic alcohol dependence has been associated with disturbed behavior, cerebral atrophy and a low plasma concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n-3), particularly if liver disease is present. In animal models, excessive alcohol consumption is reported to reduce brain DHA concentration, suggesting disturbed brain DHA metabolism. We hypothesized that brain DHA metabolism also is abnormal in chronic alcoholics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 15 non-smoking chronic alcoholics, studied within 7 days of their last drink, with 22 non-smoking healthy controls. Using published neuroimaging methods with positron emission tomography (PET), we measured regional coefficients (K*) and rates (J(in)) of DHA incorporation from plasma into the brain of each group using [1-(11)C]DHA, and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using [(15)O]water. Data were partial volume error corrected for brain atrophy. Plasma unesterified DHA concentration also was quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean K* for DHA was significantly and widely elevated by 10-20%, and rCBF was elevated by 7%-34%, in alcoholics compared with controls. Unesterified plasma DHA did not differ significantly between groups nor did whole brain J(in), the product of K* and unesterified plasma DHA concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly higher values of K* for DHA in alcoholics indicate increased brain avidity for DHA, thus a brain DHA metabolic deficit vis-à-vis plasma DHA availability. Higher rCBF in alcoholics suggests increased energy consumption. These changes may reflect a hypermetabolic state related to early alcohol withdrawal, or a general brain metabolic change in chronic alcoholics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Umhau
authors.forename: Weiyin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shantalaxmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thada
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demar
authors.forename: Nahed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Abesh K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.forename: Kaizong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majchrzak-Hong
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herscovitch
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urish
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hibbeln
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.forename: Stanley I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rapoport
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057229:Alcoholics; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids